Seven teams will be taking to the turf to participate in the Durban North Regional of the SPAR KZN School Girls’ Hockey Challenge on Saturday 25 March at Crawford La Lucia.

It will be an early start to the regional, with the round robin games getting underway just after 7am. Teams will be playing in one direction in short 18minute burst games with the two top teams battling it out at the end of the day in the regional final.

Defending champions Ashton International College will be keen to reclaim the title for the fourth time in the seven years’ history of this tournament. Challenging them will be host school, Crawford College La Lucia together with Crawford College North Coast, Danville Park Girls’ High School, Our Lady Fatima DCS and Reddam House uMhlanga.

Previous winner, Danville Park (2012 and 2014) would like to have their name engraved on the trophy for a third time. And if Fatima’s feisty spirit is anything to go by, they too would love to lift the trophy for the second time, having taken the regional title in the inaugural tournament in 2011.

Tournament Director, Les Galloway said, “We are in for an exciting day of hockey at this regional. I have chatted to a number of the coaches and it appears that after a fantastic indoor season, the schools are raring to go with a number of teams eyeing out the regional trophy.”

Continuing, Galloway enthused, “What is also uplifting for the tournament, we have three new teams participating this weekend. We welcome Reddam House uMhlanga to the Durban North Regional and wish them well as they take to the turf. And two new teams that will participate in the Durban Central Regional, we welcome Rossburgh High and Durban Girls Secondary.”

MD for SPAR KZN, Max Oliva said, “The long-term weather forecast is looking a bit damp, but I guarantee the weather will not deter from any of the action expected on the turf! In the four previous tournaments, this year, we have been in awe by the big hearts that have stepped onto the fields. The sportsmanship displayed has been admirable, and I look forward to seeing more of this throughout the challenge!”

At the conclusion of the 22 games, the Durban North Regional will reveal the fifth team who will go through to the Grand Finals that takes place at St Mary’s in July. Four teams have already secured their berth at the tournament, Ferrum High School (Northern KZN); St John’s DSG (PMB Central); St Anne’s College (PMB North) and Amanzimtoti High School (DBN South).